Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Sector Stakeholder 

Workshop: Motor Vehicle Air Conditioning

December 4, 2013

1:00 PM – 3:00 PM EST

1310 L Street NW, Washington DC, Room 152

Concept Note 

EPA is hosting a series of workshops for interested stakeholders to exchange information on the 

sectors considered under the Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program and included 

for analytical purposes in EPA’s Vintaging Model. Refrigeration and air conditioning is the 

largest SNAP sector; therefore, the Agency will be hosting multiple workshops on different enduses and applications within the refrigeration and air conditioning sector. This workshop will 

focus on motor vehicle air conditioning applications.

The SNAP program was established in 1994 by Section 612 of the Clean Air Act to ensure that 

alternatives to ozone-depleting substances used in key sectors pose lower overall risk to human 

health and the environment than what is currently or potentially available. Toward that end, 

SNAP reviews alternatives based on toxicity, flammability, ozone-depletion potential, global 

warming potential, environmental fate, and other criteria. On June 25, 2013, President Obama 

announced the Climate Action Plan that will “[keep] the United States of America a leader, a 

global leader in the fight against climate change.” As part of his plan, President Obama directed 

EPA to use its authority through the SNAP Program “to encourage private-sector investment in 

low-emissions technology by identifying and approving climate-friendly chemicals while 

prohibiting certain uses of the most harmful chemical alternatives.” EPA hosted a separate SNAP 

Stakeholder meeting on August 22, 2013, to begin a dialogue between stakeholders and EPA on 

next steps and effective approaches going forward to meet the goals for the SNAP program.

The purpose of the December 4th sector workshop is to foster dialogue between stakeholders 

and EPA and discuss information on the current and future use of various refrigerants used 

in motor vehicle air conditioning systems. To help frame our discussion, please consider the 

questions below ahead of the meeting. 
Agenda

1. Welcome & Introductions

2. Background

a. Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) Program

b. President’s Climate Action Plan

c. Other Activities

3. Discussion

a. In many sectors the SNAP program is receiving an increased number of 

submissions. Are new substitutes anticipated for MVAC? Do you foresee more 

transitions from existing alternatives?

b. What benefits have you seen from transitions? Decreased cost? Support 

sustainability goals? Better for the environment, performance?

c. Where a transition has been made, particularly to climate-friendly alternatives, 

what benefits have you experienced from making the change? 

d. What are the barriers precluding transition to safer alternatives?

i. What transition times would be needed to move to alternatives? 

ii. What end uses will require continued servicing and for how long?

e. Under what circumstances/conditions would it make sense for EPA to change the 

listing status of certain high-GWP HFCs?

f. What are some ways that SNAP can help “encourage private-sector investment in 

low-emissions technolog[ies](?)”

g. Are there ways to provide a degree of certainty for future investments while 

“prohibiting certain uses of the most harmful” alternatives?

h. Can companies or trade associations share additional data to inform our 

understanding of the MVAC sector?